Shepherds Farmhouse

Shepherds Farmhouse is a former farmhouse that dates back to the late 15th century and features a three-cell open hall design. The parlour cell was rebuilt in the mid-16th century, along with other alterations. The building has two storeys and an attic above the parlour cell. It is constructed from timber framing and plaster, topped with a thatched roof that is hipped at the right-hand (service) end. There is an axial chimney, with its shaft rebuilt in late 19th century red brick and gault brick quoins. A 19th century eyebrow casement dormer is present, along with mainly 19th century small-pane casements. A late 20th century gabled entrance porch has a plain tiled roof and features a framed and boarded door.

Inside, the two-bay open hall showcases an open truss with a slender tie-beam and shallow four-centred arch-braces, suggesting a possible early 16th century date. The roof is smoke-blackened with coupled rafters. There is a blocked rear cross-entry doorway with a four-centred arched head and two mutilated service room doorways. The service cell includes a diamond-mullioned window and studwork with long windbraces, which are arch-form in the side walls and tension-form at the end. The upper end of the partition wall has been significantly altered, but there is evidence of an early or original smoke bay.

Around 1550, alterations were made that included high-quality carpentry: an inserted upper floor with roll-moulded joists and multiple roll-moulded main beams in the hall. There are a pair of wide open fireplaces made of narrow buff brick, and in the hall, a cambered lintel can be found. The parlour cell features good close studding, a similarly moulded first floor, and a window with roll-and-cavetto mouldings. The roof is of the clasped-purlin type. The farmhouse is believed to be associated with Alice Rayner in 1557 and remained in her family until around 1640.